The rest of September's Abysmal Disasters:
September 8, 1934 - Some 130 persons died when a fire broke out on the ship, Morrow Castle, near Ashbury Park, N.J.
September 9 ~ 12, 1960 - Thirty persons were killed and heavy damage done as Hurricane "Donna," at the time the most destructive in U. S. Weather Bureau history, ravaged the U.S. Atlantic Coast from Florida to New England.
September 9, 1969 - Near Indianapolis, 83 died when a light plane crashed into a jet.
September 10, 1954 - Hurricane "Edna" veered inland at Cape Hatteras, N.C., roared northward, killed 22, caused property damage of $50 million.
September 11, 1992 - Hurricane strikes Kauai, "the garden isle," in Hawaii.
September 12, 1966 - Racial tension breaks out in Grenada, Mississippi. At 2 newly integrated public schools, police stood idly by as white mobs assaulted Negro children and their parents with ax handles, pipes, and chains, injuring 40.
September 14, 1944 - A major hurricane with winds up to 134 mph raked the Atlantic coast from Cape Hatteras to Canada, killing 390 at sea (mostly on military vessels that sank) and about 50 civilians. Damage was estimated at $50 million.
September 17 ~ 19, 1947 - A severe hurricane swept in from the Gulf of Mexico, causing widespread damage in Florida, Mississippi, and Louisana, killing at least 100 people. On Sept. 21, in the aftermath of the hurricane, flood waters near New Orleans destroyed many crops and killed about 60 people.
September 18, 1926 - A disastrous hurricane swept across Florida and the Gulf States. The deaths of 372 persons was attributed to the storm as well as the injury of over 6000. Some 5000 homes were destroyed, leaving almost 18,000 families homeless. Property damage was estimated at more than $80 million.
September 21, 1776 - New York City. In spite of the fact that the Continental Congress had vetoed a proposal by General George Washington to burn the city to achieve a military advantage, the largest fire in the history of New York occurred. At 1 a.m., the rebels set several fires scattered throughout the city all at the same time. But not before having stolen the bells from the bell towers, the bottoms from the buckets, and having disabled the fire engines. At every turn the rebels thwarted the occupants of the city's fire fighting attempts. One fourth of the town burned to the ground while the British troops and occupants of the city fought the blaze. In all, nearly 500 buildings were destroyed leaving the exhausted redcoats with nothing to sleep in but tents.
September 21, 1938 - Long Island, New York. Dubbed the "Long Island Express" a massive hurricane strikes the Big Apple killing 700 and injuring another 1,500. 100,000 homes were either destroyed or badly damaged. 26,000 automobiles were affected as well. 300 million trees were uprooted and destroyed. Wind speeds were recorded at 120 mph with gusts estimated at 250 mph. The force of the sea wave striking the shore was so great that earthquake instruments in California picked up the vibrations.
Sept. 24, 1952 - Myojin-sho volcano exploded under a research ship the Kaiyo-maru killing 22 crew members and 7 scientists 250 miles south of Tokyo.
September 24, 1957 - President Eisenhower sent about 1000 U.S. Army paratroops to Central High School, Little Rock, Ark. The President said that violence had caused the removal of 9 Negro students in the newly integrated school. The 9 Negroes entered the guarded school on September 25.
Sept. 25, 1989 - Hurricane Hugo hits South Carolina. Millions of dollars in damages was reported. Throughout the Caribbean 27 died while 150,000 people were left homeless. At St. Croix 160 mph winds were recorded and 90% of all buildings were destroyed.
September 27, 1290 - Earthquake in Chihli, China. Over 100,000 dead.
September 29, 1927 - A furious tornado, which lasted all of five minutes struck St. Louis. It resulted in 87 deaths and the injury of 1500 more. More than 1000 houses were destroyed by the storm and estimates of property damage exceeded $50 million.
September 30, 1962 - Negro student James H. Meredith was escorted onto the University of Mississippi campus by U.S. marshals. Two men were killed in the ensuing mob violence which was quelled with the aid of 3,000 federal soldiers.
This list is by no means comprehensive. If you know of a September disaster that was left out, please feel free to add your knowledge to the collation.
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